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Walmart CEO says debate about assault-weapons ban belongs in Congress

For the first time, Walmart disclosed that it accounts for about 2% of the U.S. firearms market, which would place it outside the top three sellers.

Walmart employees pay their respects at a makeshift memorial for the shooting victims, at the Cielo Vista Mall Walmart in El Paso, Texas, on August 6, 2019. - The August 3 shooting left 22 people dead. US President Donald Trump will visit the Texan border city August 7, and will also travel to Dayton, Ohio where a second mass shooting early August 4 left another nine dead. (Photo by Mark RALSTON / AFP)MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images(MARK RALSTON / Getty Images)

In the wake of the mass shooting at the Walmart in El Paso, chief executive officer Doug McMillon called for an assault weapons ban to be debated by Congress and said he's encouraged by growing support for gun-control measures like background checks.

America's largest retailer has found itself increasingly wading into political debates, at times risking the ire of loyal customers. For the first time, Walmart disclosed that it accounts for about 2% of the U.S. firearms market, which would place it outside the top three sellers. In ammunition, the chain maintains a 20% share.

"We believe the reauthorization of the assault weapons ban should be debated to determine its effectiveness in keeping weapons made for war out of the hands of mass murderers," McMillon said as part of his written commentary on the company earnings. "We must also do more to understand the root causes that lead to this type of violent behavior."

McMillon also expressed support for stronger background checks and policies that would take weapons away from people who pose immediate danger. Walmart runs background checks on all gun purchases and only sells to customers who have cleared them, the company said.

Walmart was thrust back into the debate over gun control after the Aug. 3 shootings in El Paso, Texas, that left 22 people dead. The retailer has been criticized by gun-control supporters for decades for its decision to keep selling at least some types of firearms. Advocates have won some victories, including Walmart's decision in 2015 to end sales of military-style rifles.

The shootings have also raised concerns about safety within Walmart's stores. Just days before, two employees were shot and killed at a location in Mississippi. And since El Paso, there have been numerous threats and incidents, including a man entering a store armed with a rifle. Security has been increased at the El Paso store and a few others, the company said.